and
It is not known if RYTELO is safe and effective in children.
RYTELO may work differently than other treatment options
RYTELO works on a part of the cell that affects an enzyme called telomerase, which is often more active in abnormal MDS cells
In nonclinical* studies, RYTELO helped to stop these abnormal MDS cells from multiplying
RYTELO was studied in the IMerge phase 3 clinical trial. 178 adult patients with low- or intermediate-1 risk MDS with anemia (low red blood cell counts) who need blood transfusions of 4 or more red blood cell units over 8 weeks, compared with no active medication (placebo), were studied across 17 different countries.
The goal of this trial was to see whether 118 patients treated with RYTELO would need fewer red blood cell transfusions compared with the 60 patients who received treatment with placebo.
Patients were included for the IMerge trial if their previous MDS treatment with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) did not work for them or had stopped working, or if they were ineligible for an ESA.
Patients could receive supportive care as needed, including red blood cell transfusions, platelet transfusions, and growth factors.
Not an actual patient.
The primary trial objective was to determine the number of RYTELO patients who reached 8 consecutive weeks or more without a red blood cell transfusion.
Nearly 40% (n=47 out of 118) of patients taking RYTELO required
ZERO
red blood cell
transfusions for
8 consecutive
weeks or more
vs 15% (n=9 out of 60) of patients taking placebo
The secondary objective was to determine the number of RYTELO patients who reached 24 consecutive weeks or more without a red blood cell transfusion.
28% (n=33 out of 118) of patients taking RYTELO required ZERO red blood cell transfusions for 24 consecutive weeks or more vs 3% (n=2 out of 60) of patients taking placebo
RYTELO (imetelstat) is a prescription medicine used to treat a condition called low- to intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in adults:
and
who have not responded to, have stopped responding to, or cannot be treated with medicines called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).
It is not known if RYTELO is safe and effective in children.
Before you receive RYTELO (imetelstat), tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. RYTELO may harm your unborn baby and may cause loss of pregnancy (miscarriage). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with RYTELO.
Females who are able to become pregnant:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
RYTELO may cause serious side effects, including:
Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Low platelet counts are common during treatment with RYTELO and can also be severe. Low platelet counts can increase your risk for bleeding. Your healthcare provider may give you platelet transfusions to reduce the risk of bleeding if you develop a low platelet count during treatment with RYTELO. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of bleeding, including:
Low neutrophil counts (neutropenia). Low counts of a type of white blood cell called neutrophils are common during treatment with RYTELO and can also be severe. Low neutrophil counts can increase your risk for infections, including serious infections and sepsis. Your healthcare provider may give you medicines before you start treatment to help prevent neutropenia and infections and may treat you with medicines if you develop these problems during treatment with RYTELO. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of infection during treatment with RYTELO, including:
Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your platelet and neutrophil counts before starting treatment with RYTELO, weekly for the first 2 cycles of treatment, before you receive each additional cycle, and as needed during your treatment.
Your healthcare provider may delay your next treatment, decrease your dose, or stop treatment with RYTELO if you develop thrombocytopenia or neutropenia during treatment.
RYTELO may cause serious side effects, including:
Infusion-related reactions. RYTELO can cause infusion-related reactions during or after your infusion that can be severe, including a severe sudden increase in blood pressure called hypertensive crisis. Your healthcare provider will give you medicines before each RYTELO infusion to help prevent or lessen infusion-related reactions and will watch you for at least 1 hour after your infusion. If you develop infusion-related reactions, your healthcare provider may infuse RYTELO more slowly, temporarily stop, or permanently stop your treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any signs or symptoms of infusion-related reactions, including:
The most common side effects of RYTELO include:
These are not all of the possible side effects of RYTELO. Call your doctor for more information and medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see RYTELO (imetelstat) full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
Before you receive RYTELO (imetelstat), tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. RYTELO may harm your unborn baby and may cause loss of pregnancy (miscarriage). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with RYTELO.
Females who are able to become pregnant:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
RYTELO may cause serious side effects, including:
Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Low platelet counts are common during treatment with RYTELO and can also be severe. Low platelet counts can increase your risk for bleeding. Your healthcare provider may give you platelet transfusions to reduce the risk of bleeding if you develop a low platelet count during treatment with RYTELO. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of bleeding, including:
Low neutrophil counts (neutropenia). Low counts of a type of white blood cell called neutrophils are common during treatment with RYTELO and can also be severe. Low neutrophil counts can increase your risk for infections, including serious infections and sepsis. Your healthcare provider may give you medicines before you start treatment to help prevent neutropenia and infections and may treat you with medicines if you develop these problems during treatment with RYTELO. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of infection during treatment with RYTELO, including:
Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your platelet and neutrophil counts before starting treatment with RYTELO, weekly for the first 2 cycles of treatment, before you receive each additional cycle, and as needed during your treatment.
Your healthcare provider may delay your next treatment, decrease your dose, or stop treatment with RYTELO if you develop thrombocytopenia or neutropenia during treatment.
RYTELO may cause serious side effects, including:
Infusion-related reactions. RYTELO can cause infusion-related reactions during or after your infusion that can be severe, including a severe sudden increase in blood pressure called hypertensive crisis. Your healthcare provider will give you medicines before each RYTELO infusion to help prevent or lessen infusion-related reactions and will watch you for at least 1 hour after your infusion. If you develop infusion-related reactions, your healthcare provider may infuse RYTELO more slowly, temporarily stop, or permanently stop your treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any signs or symptoms of infusion-related reactions, including:
The most common side effects of RYTELO include:
These are not all of the possible side effects of RYTELO. Call your doctor for more information and medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see RYTELO (imetelstat) full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
RYTELO (imetelstat) is a prescription medicine used to treat a condition called low- to intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in adults:
and
who have not responded to, have stopped responding to, or cannot be treated with medicines called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).
It is not known if RYTELO is safe and effective in children.